Poker Table Position
Position is almost as important as the hand you hold. It is where you are relative to all the other players in the hand. The last position is the best as you get to see what each player actions in front of you and make a decision based on that information.
In last position, you can check your weak hands and bet your monster hands. This allows extracting the most out of your hands and controlling the size of the pot. The amount you lose when you lose and the amount you win when you win is what will make you a winner overall.
For example, you have Kh Kd and the board hits Ks Qs 8h. You are in last position and you are betting with 3 callers. The turn is the 2d and you bet again with 3 more calls. The river is the 9s. The first player bets, the second raises and the third re-raises. You are now sure that there must be straights or flushes against you and it’s an easy lay down. Had you been in second position, this surely would have cost you something.
Position is a two edged sword, when last to act, you get the most information but it’s hard to trap anyone when you hit your monster. You either have to bet your hand and hope for a call or check and hope not to get outdrawn and maybe your opponent will bet at the pot.
Hands go up in value because when you have late position. This is not to say they are worth more but you are more informed on how to play them or whether you should even play them. The reason you will see a person play the 9s-8s on the button and not the UTG position is mostly due to the position. You have little risk of being raised and the amount of money you will make when you hit will be well worth the risk.
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